Vincent Tan's turbulent three years as owner of Cardiff City | Football | The Guardian Cardiff City Vincent Tan's turbulent three years as owner of Cardiff City From changing the club's colours to talk of changing their name and interfering in team affairs, his rule has not been quiet Cardiff City owner, Vincent Tan, celebrates promotion to the Premier League in April. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA Guardian staff Thursday 19 December 2013 20.07 EST First published on Thursday 19 December 2013 20.07 EST Vincent Tan buys more than 35 per cent of Cardiff City shares for £6m June 2012 Cardiff – nickname the Bluebirds – confirm they will change their shirts from blue to red, with a new dragon crest as part of a "major and significant" investment. The club say: "The colour red is widely recognised as being synonymous with Welsh culture and heritage, with Cardiff the proud capital of the country.

The colour also holds strong spiritual significance in Asia." February 2013 Tan, who introduced McDonald's to his homeland Malaysia in the 1980s, speaks publicly for the first time about his plans to turn the club into a force in Asia. Tan reveals the club could change its name to Cardiff Dragons. April 2013 Cardiff seal promotion to the Premier League, 53 years to the day since the club last won promotion to football's top tier. August 2013 Cardiff kick-off life in the Premier League. Summer signings include the Chile international Gary Medel from Sevilla for £11m, the Tottenham central defender Steven Caulker for £8m and Andreas Cornelius for £7.5m, breaking their transfer record three times. October 2013 Malky Mackay's key adviser, Iain Moody, is suspended and replaced by Alisher Apsalyamov, a 23-year-old Kazakh who is thought to be a friend of Tan's son.

October 2013 Vincent Tan's level of interference in his role as Cardiff City's owner extends to signing a player without the prior approval of Malky Mackay or any of the manager's recruitment and scouting staff . Etien Velikonja, a Slovenian forward who cost €2m (£1.7m), arrived at Cardiff unannounced in 2012 and via a deal that involved Jorge Mendes, one of the world's most high-profile football agents. December 2013 Malky Mackay is slapped down by Cardiff City after saying he hoped to bring three new players to the club in the January transfer window. The chief executive, Simon Lim, says Tan was jolted by the manager's announcement that he would seek backing from the board for strengthening. Lim says it was Tan's view that the club overspent in the transfer market by £15m before the current season.

It has emerged that Cardiff City's owner, Vincent Tan, has told Malky Mackay to resign or be sacked Published: 19 Dec 2013 Cardiff City FC owner on changing club colours to red - BBC News BBC News Cardiff City FC owner on changing club colours to red 14 June 2012 Close share panel Image caption The changes include a new club crest, with a dragon Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan has defended controversial plans to change the team's colours from blue to red. In a statement, the Malaysian investor said while some may find it difficult to "digest or accept", the decision was financial to attract a following in international markets. The colour red is regarded as lucky in parts of Asia. He said he would boost his £40m investment of the last two years to £100m to improve chances of promotion. "I would like to emphasise that I hold no desire to trample on club history or heritage and would be saddened if supporters thought that this was my intention," he said. Last week Cardiff City FC confirmed they will change their shirts from blue to red with a new dragon crest as part of "major and significant" investment.

The move follows fresh discussions between club directors and Malaysian investors Tan Sri Vincent Tan and Dato Chan Tien Ghee, known as TG. Now, more details of the investment have emerged in Mr Tan's statement in which he says up to £100m will be invested in the club. 'Right management' He admits that he knew "little of football" when friend and business partner TG suggested they invested in a "British football club which had the possibility of being promoted to the top flight of English football" and regarded it initially as an investment and a business decision. I believe that our club has great potential, but in order to realise that potential real world business and financial decisions need to be made Tan Sri Vincent Tan, Cardiff City owner However, since his initial £6m investment for a 40% stake in the club Mr Tan has seen the "passion of the Cardiff fans towards their home club" and was "convinced that with the right management and sufficient funding" the club could make it into the Premier League. And he explains that since then he has invested a total of £40.8m (comprising £34.8m in loans and £6m in equity) in the club.

"I believe that our club has great potential, but in order to realise that potential real world business and financial decisions need to be made at the appropriate and opportune time," he said. "Locally driven revenues and investment can only safeguard the economic stability of Cardiff City to a certain extent given the level of financial burden that has been accumulated by the club prior to my coming on board as a major investor. 'Squad strengthening' "As much as it may be difficult for some quarters to digest or accept, under the existing model our future sustainability is far from stable. As investors, we are duty bound to explore ways in which we feel the club can grow over the long term." He talks of a further £35m investment expected for the club to meet its "financial obligations" for the period from now until May 2013, including a "substantial amount for squad strengthening" as well as a further £24m also expected, taking a total investment to about £100m. Mr Tan said: "To sit and wait for the possibility of promotion before carrying out any groundwork would make little sense.

"To this end the decision to begin the hard work now will only serve us best in the long term, maximising our chance to capitalise on our present endeavours if and when Premier League status is achieved, although I appreciate there are no guarantees." He said the club is currently working on expanding television coverage in Asia, where the club's new red colours, combined with a new dragon crest would be well regarded, he said. "With the powerful images these portray in both Wales and the Asian marketplaces I am prepared to back this vision with the investment that we have outlined above, which I would hope demonstrates both my commitment and faith in that strategy." Cardiff City F.C. | Football Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Current season Cardiff City Football Club is a professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales that competes in the English football league system . The club played in the Premier League for the first time in the 2013–14 season , at the end of which they were relegated after their 3-0 away loss to Newcastle United. They play their home games at the Cardiff City Stadium , after moving from Ninian Park in 2009. The club was founded as Riverside A.F.C.

in 1899 and is the only club from outside England to have won the FA Cup , which they won in 1927 . The club won the Football League Championship title in the 2012–13 season and were promoted to the top flight for the first time in 51 years. This followed two lost national cup finals, the 2008 FA Cup Final against Portsmouth and the 2012 Football League Cup Final against Liverpool , the latter being settled by a penalty shootout. In 2012, Cardiff City was rebranded by the club's Malaysian owner, Vincent Tan. This included the change of the club's home colours and crest. The Cardiff City rebrand legacy: Three years on, what has Vincent Tan delivered in return for the controversial red shirts... and what do fans still demand? - Wales Online Sport The Cardiff City rebrand legacy: Three years on, what has Vincent Tan delivered in return for the controversial red shirts... and what do fans still demand? Three years ago this weekend, Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan made a series of pledges to frustrated fans in return for turning the club's colours from blue to red.

Here we look at what's been delivered and what's still in the pipeline. Share Owner Vincent Tan rebranded Cardiff City in 2012, changing the badge and the home kit to red Share Get rugby updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan wrote an open letter to "disenfranchised" fans three years ago this weekend, in which he made £100m worth of pledges in return for his shock and highly contentious red rebrand plan. The emotive issue sent ripples through the club in the summer of 2012 but even though thousands swore they would stop supporting the club until the colour change was reversed, most accepted it as long as the club moved forward. Tan was adamant that fans should not be disenfranchised and, in a lengthy statement released on the club's official website on June 14, 2012, he said: "I sincerely would like to see our supporters join us on his journey with the sole desire of making Cardiff City Football Club the best it can be.

"In order to realise our potential, real world business and financial decisions need to be made." Some refused to back the controversial plans and sent their season tickets back , but the club's colour and badge were changed and Cardiff City would never be the same again. Malky Mackay led the club to the Championship title in their first year wearing red at home and every Bluebird celebrated, whether they were wearing red shirts, blue shirts or no shirts at all. Gallery: Relive that amazing night when the dream came true View gallery But once the dust settled on the joy of Premier League promotion, fans started to ask questions of Tan's grand plan and a vociferous pro-blue groundswell began to be built up. A pressure group called Bluebirds Unite organised a series of anti-rebrand protests and sections of fans started the ritual of holding up blue scarves 19 minutes and 27 seconds into each home match as a form of demonstration. In January 2015, Tan bowed to pressure and turned the kit back to blue, but so much had changed at Cardiff City in a roller coaster two-and-a-half-years.

Three years after the Malaysian billionaire first revealed the full details of his radical plan, we take a look at what has been delivered and what the fans are still waiting for. The Pledges Premier League football in the Welsh Capital - Delivered For all the criticism Vincent Tan received in the 2012/13 season, he delivered on his most important promise, to return Cardiff City to the top flight for the first time since the early 1960s. In the summer of 2012, he said: "We hold aspirations to bring Premier League status to the Welsh capital and should strive to make this a reality for all to cherish and enjoy." And to be fair, Malky Mackay's super-efficient team did it with plenty to spare, racking up 87 points, eight more than nearest challengers Hull, sparking stunning scenes at the Cardiff City Stadium. The night they secured promotion against Charlton, Vincent Tan paraded around the pitch with his red shirt on and was applauded as loudly as anybody. A substantial investment in squad strengthening - Delivered In fairness to Tan, it is difficult to criticise his monumental investment in players, even if it did slow down last season.

The 2012/13 campaign saw a £12m spend on transfer fees alone and once Premier League promotion was secured, £45m was spent in transfer fees and a whopping £47m on wages. In the season that followed the rebrand, Nicky Maynard was brought in for £2.75m, Kim Bo-kyung for £2.6m, while Jordon Mutch and Craig Noone arrived for just over £1m each. Nicky Maynard on the day he signed for Cardiff Once promotion was sealed, a raft of internationals were brought in for huge money. Gary Medel arrived for £11.5m, Steven Caulker for £8m and Andreas Cornelius for £8m. Mats Daehli, Peter Odemwingie, Kevin Theophile-Catherine and Manus Wolff EIkrem also arrived for between £2m and £2.5m each. So, whether every signing was wise or not and even though though few of the high-profile players remain, the amount spent on players and wages has been little short of remarkable since 2012.

Tan pledged money to strengthen and he certainly gave plenty to Malky Mackay and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. £12m to increase the stadium capacity to 35,000 - Delivered Even though the Ninian Stand extension wasn't delivered in time for the Bluebirds Premier League adventure and has been mothballed next season, nobody can argue that its very existence is a sign of the investment Tan has made in Cardiff City. In 2012, he said: "We have budgeted £12m to increase the stadium capacity by an additional 8,000 seats to 35,000 seats." Building work was carried out through the back end of the Premier League season and last summer and the imposing extension, which cost the £12m earmarked, was completed in time for the Uefa Super Cup final between Real Madrid and Sevilla, which Tan attended.

At 33,280 the official capacity of the Cardiff City Stadium is a little short of the 35,000 hoped for, but should Cardiff City regain their Premier League status, they will be playing in a stadium that would not look out of place in the top flight Expand televised coverage of the club in Asia - Delivered Once the rebrand had been pushed through, Tan and his team made speedy work of tying up a ground breaking television deal in his native Malaysia and surrounding countries. In his statement, he said: "We are currently working on expanding televised coverage of the club in Asia for the seasons ahead, strengthening the already growing awareness of Cardiff City." A new TV gantry was swiftly erected in the grandstand and by the kick off of the successful 2012/13 season, the Bluebirds' had done a deal with the Football League to ensure matches were being beamed across south east Asia. But, once the club reached the Premier League, rights issues mean they weren't allowed to continue with the filming and it is yet to be seen whether a successful start to a Championship season would see it return.

The debt to Langston to be successfully negotiated - Ongoing Once Premier League promotion was sealed in 2013, Cardiff City had apparently settled on a deal with long-term creditors Langston , which saw Sam Hammam given an honorary life presidency and his aide Michael Filiou given a place on the Bluebirds board. The settlement was quoted at the time as being £15m in cash and a further £7m in installments. But while Tan welcomed Hammam back to Cardiff City on the day they picked up the Championship trophy, that wasn't the end of the matter. By the start of 2015, the two organisations were in the High Court, with the mystery Swiss based company claiming the club had defaulted on their installments while a counter-claim was filled by Cardiff City claiming they'd over paid. The legal battle is still being played out behind the scenes but a summary judgement is expected from the High Court in due course. In the meantime, there is talk of Cardiff City holding an EGM to get rid of Hammam's representative on the board. For whatever reason, this matter has clearly not been satisfactorily concluded. Yet.

£10m for Premier League standard training ground - Not Delivered Three years on, many Bluebirds fans have forgotten that a Premier League standard training ground was on the agenda. But at the time, Tan had grand plans, saying: "We have budgeted £10m for new Premier League standard training facilities. A site has since been agreed, adjacent to the club's current training ground in Hensol, and plans have been submitted to Vale of Glamorgan council, but not a brick has been laid as planning permission is still being sought. In fact, the council claim planning permission is "unlikely" to be granted until at least September. The £10m development been held up by an ecological report, which will determine the potential effect on wildlife that currently occupies the proposed site. A spokesman for the council said this week: "The ecological survey work being carried out by the applicant has yet to be submitted, and once it is it still needs to be considered by both the Council and Natural Resources Wales . "It’s unlikely that the application will be reported to the planning committee in July." There is no meeting of the council's planning committee scheduled in August, so the earliest they are likely to discuss the application is mid September.

As the club looks to rebuild itself for another Premier League push in 2015/16, the issue the club would most like to see resolved in the conversion of Vincent Tan's loans into equity, to make the club debt free. This issue was never raised in Tan's 2012 statement, but The latest published accounts, in February, say the club currently owes Tan £130m, but chairman Mehmet Dalman admitted he wouldn't advise the owner to convert his loans into shares "at this moment in time." Like us on Facebook Most Read Most Recent Buy Cardiff City tickets securely online on 1st4 Football Tickets .com MATCHES AVAILABLE: 657 Cardiff City Tickets Cardiff City Football Club is a professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. Cardiff City was founded in 1899 and is the only club outside of England to win the FA Cup, which they won in 1927. In 2012, Cardiff City was rebranded by the club's Malaysian then-owners, Vincent Tan and Chan Tien Ghee. This included the change of the club's home colours and crest.

The club will compete in the Premier League for the first time in the 2013–14 season. They play their home games at the Cardiff City Stadium, after moving from Ninian Park in 2009. Cardiff City change club colour back to blue, as Vincent Tan bows to fan pressure | Daily Mail Online Cardiff City change club colour back to blue, as Vincent Tan bows to fan pressure Cardiff announce return to playing in blue with immediate effect They will play in blue when they face Fulham on Saturday New club badge featuring a more prominent bluebird will also be designed The club changed their branding from blue to red in 2012 Vincent Tan was behind the controversial change after buying the club Fans at a meeting on Thursday unanimously voted in favour of a blue kit Cardiff City FC confirm rebranding with new red shirts - BBC News BBC News Cardiff City FC confirm rebranding with new red shirts 6 June 2012 From the section South East Wales comments Read more about sharing.

Close share panel Image caption Players Aron Gunnarsson in Cardiff's new red home shirt and Joe Mason in the new blue away strip Cardiff City FC have confirmed they will change their shirts from blue to red with a new dragon crest as part of "major and significant" investment. The move follows fresh discussions between club directors and Malaysian investors Tan Sri Vincent Tan and Dato Chan Tien Ghee, known as TG. Chief executive Alan Whiteley said it was designed to help the club - known as the Bluebirds - expand their appeal. When the rebranding was leaked in May it led to an impassioned debate. The new investment package will also allow the club to resolve its longstanding debt with the Langston company, it revealed. It followed "a comprehensive review" of supporter feedback, the club said. Until now, City have always played in a blue home strip with a bluebird crest. I... sincerely hope that all of our loyal fans will come to accept the changes in the spirit in which they are made Dato Chan Tien Ghee, Chairman, Cardiff City FC Some supporters still opposed the changes, but others argue that the club should accept change to help secure major funding.

The plans had appeared to have been dropped amid the controversy, but the club confirmed the rebranding would go ahead in a statement released on Wednesday morning confirming details of the investment package. The changes would be introduced "with a view to exploiting and maximising its brand and commercial revenues in international markets, which it is hoped in turn will bring success to the club locally, whilst also attracting new partners and investors." The statement continued: "As part of this commitment, funds have been earmarked to finally resolve the historical Langston debt issue which for so long has cast a dark cloud over the club and its future. "Negotiations have been continuing and a final offer has been made to those representing Langston and [former club owner] Sam Hammam which we believe is both fair and reasonable." The club plan to invest in a new training ground and facilities, and will look into the feasibility of expanding the stadium. "Our investors have also fully reaffirmed their support to enable [club manager] Malky Mackay to strengthen his squad for the season ahead in line with the viable and prudent budgets agreed with him," it said.

Media captionCardiff chief executive Alan Whiteley says: "It's a price worth paying" "This is a major and significant financial commitment and we are grateful to our investors for their continued confidence in this football club," said Mr Whiteley. "In recent years the support and commitment from our Malaysian investors has given the club a much-needed stability that has allowed us to move forward and away from the brink of administration, whilst allowing the club to challenge at the highest levels of the Championship." Mr Whiteley said structured investment in the team, stadium and infrastructure would help achieve and sustain Premier League football. Mr Whiteley said: "We recognise that there is a history and commitment that goes with supporting Cardiff City and we are conscious and proud of the loyalty, bond and passion so many share for this club. "At the same time, we also have to be prepared to be realistic and progressive. Image caption The old and new club logos, with the bluebird and dragon changing prominence "Sometimes in difficult economic times and challenging market conditions, in order to attract investment to survive and progress, brave, bold and compelling decisions and sacrifices need to be taken and made.

"By securing this investment we can safeguard the immediate and long-term future of this club." Mr Whiteley said he believed the changes would be accepted by the vast majority of supporters. He said it was "not a decision that has been taken lightly or without a great deal of thought and debate" and the board would "do their utmost to uphold, protect and promote the values and virtues which the club stands for." 'Exciting times ahead' Club chairman TG said the investment "should promise exciting times ahead for Cardiff City". "I am very grateful in particular to Tan Sri Vincent Tan for making this possible and for his continued commitment and support," he said. "I know and understand that there have been reservations in certain quarters over the changes accompanying the investment, but sincerely hope that all of our loyal fans will come to accept the changes in the spirit in which they are made and continue with their passionate and fantastic support. "This club will always be Cardiff City Football Club and its name and heart will never change nor are any of the changes meant to destroy any part of its history or culture." He said the rebrand created "a symbolic fusion with Asia which will allow us to fly the Welsh flag on behalf of Cardiff wherever we go".

The move has prompted both support and anger among the club's fan base. Media captionDurham Univ's Russell Hill: "In nature red is often seen as a signal of dominance in males." Gwyn Davies, of the Valley Rams Supporters Club, accepted the change, saying: "People have calmed down and had a think about it". "None of us want to change to red," said Mr Davies. "It's something we'll accept willingly because of the price that goes with it, and the benefits that will go with it." But another fan, Dan Buckley, tweeted: "I loved this football club. Truly loved it from the bottom of my heart. Words can't describe how gutted I am. Sickened". Cardiff City Supporters' Trust said it would ask its members whether or not they support the re-branding, which it described as "radical proposals from the club". CARDIFF CITY FOOTBALL CLUB BLUEBIRDS In June 2009, Cardiff City completed a state-of-the-art 26,828 seater stadium on the site of the now-demolished old Cardiff Athletics Stadium.

The project required the rebuilding of the athletics stadium, to be known as Cardiff International Sports Stadium, on the opposite side of Leckwith Road in Cardiff. This ground was deliberately built to house both Cardiff City FC & Cardiff Blues RFC. The plan required the demolition of the Cardiff Athletics Stadium, and the council initially insisted that its replacement be built before the start of construction of the Cardiff City Stadium, which would allow the city to have a major athletics facility for the 11 months between the demolition of the old stadium and the building of a new athletics facility nearby. But developers said that the main infrastructure work including highway improvements, drainage, gas supply and electricity cables could be carried out in a way that would allow Leckwith to remain open until July 2007. On 20 September 2007 it was announced that the Cardiff Blues rugby union club would leave their Cardiff Arms Park home to become tenants of Cardiff City at the new Leckwith stadium. Construction began on the new Cardiff International Sports Stadium in January 2007, and that venue was opened in January 2009. The new football ground, officially named Cardiff City Stadium, opened in July 2009.

On 8 May 2012, Cardiff Blues confirmed they would leave the Stadium to return to Cardiff Arms Park for the 2012ï¿½13 season and onwards. Cardiff City football club Cardiff City Football Club is a professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales (Welsh: Clwb Pï¿½l-droed Dinas Caerdydd) that competes in the English football league system. The club played in the Premier League for the first time in the 2013ï¿½14 season, at the end of which they were relegated. They play their home games at the Cardiff City Stadium, after moving from Ninian Park in 2009. The club was founded as Riverside A.F.C. in 1899 and is the only club from outside England to have won the FA Cup , which they won in 1927. The club won the Football League Championship title in the 2012ï¿½13 season and were promoted to the top flight for the first time in 51 years.

This followed two lost national cup finals, the 2008 FA Cup Final against Portsmouth and the 2012 Football League Cup Final against Liverpool, the latter being settled by a penalty shootout. Since 1908 the club's home colours have been blue and white, leading to a nickname of The Bluebirds, with the exception of a period between 2012 and 2015 when the club's owner, Vincent Tan, re-branded the club and changed the home colours to red. The change was reversed back to blue in January 2015. COLOURS & CREST When Riverside A.F.C. was formed in 1899, the club used a chocolate-brown and gold checkered shirt. Since the club became known as Cardiff City F.C. in 1908, their home colours have consisted of a blue shirt and white or blue shorts and socks. However for the first nine years black socks were used. In 1919 Cardiff reverted to blue socks with a white hoop. From 1926 Cardiff used a turquoise blue with a white collar, until 1930 when the darker blue was re-introduced.

In 1936 the club adopted white sleeves. For the next 20 years the club rarely changed their kit, just swapping between white and blue sleeves. In 1959, Cardiff used white socks for the first time. In the 1965ï¿½66 season they used an all-blue strip for the first time, the following season they swapped back to white shorts and socks but keeping the same shade of blue. From 1975 they played in an all-blue strip with yellow and white vertical stripes. In 1983 Cardiff turned back to a blue shirt, white shorts and blue socks using this until 1992 before going all-blue again up until 1996. In 2012, Cardiff changed their home kit colours from the traditional blue, white and yellow to red and black. The crest was also changed to one in which the Welsh dragon was more prominent than the traditional bluebird. The crest was changed to "appeal in 'international markets'" The change angered fans, who expressed their opposition in news and social media as well as directly to management. Cardiff rugby player Jamie Roberts criticised the change.

However, on 9 January 2015, it was announced that Cardiff City were changing their home kit back to blue with a red away kit, effective immediately. CREST HISTORY From 1908 Cardiff played in unadorned shirts. This changed in 1959, when they played in shirts with a simple crest featuring an image of a bluebird. The following season their shirts were featureless, and remained so until 1965, when they played in shirts with the word "Bluebirds" embroidered. A new crest, similar to the one previously used and again featuring a bluebird, was introduced in 1969. Variations on this crest remained until the 1980s, when extra features including words and additional motifs were added. A major change was made in 2012, when owner Vincent Tan attempted to rebrand the club in order to expand the club's appeal outside of Wales. This change gave large prominence to the Welsh Dragon, reducing the bluebird to a minor feature. In March 2015, Cardiff announced a new crest which would predominantly feature the Bluebird once again with an oriental dragon replacing the standard Welsh dragon.

WALES ONLINE - The Bluebird's managed a fifth win out of the final seven games on the road with first-half goals from Joe Ralls and Eoin Doyle. The history books will read that the Bluebirds of 2014/2015 finished in 11th, but the context reveals that some of the football played, some of the signings made, some of the standards and the supporters switching off made even this difficult to achieve. Their manager Russell Slade believed it could have been worse. BBC NEWS MARCH 2015 Cardiff City have unveiled a new badge that will be worn on their kits from the 2015-16 season. Owner Vincent Tan gave the go-ahead for the Championship club's home shirts to change back from red to blue and to make the Bluebird more prominent on the badge after consulting supporters. Sian Branson, founder of the Bluebirds Unite group, which campaigned for the colour change, welcomed the move.

She is quoted as saying: "At least I know I'm supporting CCFC when I look at this badge," "The future's blue and we don't have to feel as detached from our club any more." Branson added that there was: "still plenty that needs to be done" and hoped the fans and club could continue to work together. The club's new crest features an oriental dragon based on the one featured at Cardiff City Hall. Cardiff City said the design of the dragon is the result of "three distinct influences". The revised club logo from 2015 for the 2016 season A club statement said: "Projecting our Welsh heritage, the stance was taken from the national flag, as has been seen on our crest or shirt for a number of years. "Celebrating Asian-linked culture, design and tradition influences, we also looked to create a dragon that could be primarily owned and appreciated locally. "To achieve this the main influence was drawn from the dragon placed on top of Cardiff City Hall, as has been the case since 1904." Tan's controversial rebrand to red was introduced in June 2012 after he bought the club, to generate "appeal in international markets".

The club gained promotion to the Premier League in April 2013, but were relegated back to the Championship after one season. They are 15th in the table. The blue-to-red rebrand led to infighting among Bluebirds supporters. Fans campaigning for a return to blue would chant "we'll always be blue" after 19 minutes and 27 seconds of home games, the time chosen marking Cardiff's FA Cup success in 1927. Cardiff City Supporters' Club spokesman Vince Alm is quoted as saying that the new badge will not please all fans, but is "a step in the right direction". "The new badge looks like a Cardiff City badge, the Bluebird is more prominent and it embraces a lot of our heritage with the 1927 shield." "I just hope the fans embrace it now." FINANCES - The entity participating in the Premier League is "Cardiff City FC Limited", which is a member of the Football Association of Wales. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of "Cardiff City Football Club (Holdings) Limited", which is the ultimate parent company of the group.

There is one shareholder owning 10% or more of the issued-share capital in the ultimate parent company, Vincent Tan, who holds 51%. Principal shareholder Tan from Malaysia is founder, major shareholder and, until 2013, chairman of the Berjaya group of companies. In January 2014, the club's financial records for the fiscal period up to May 2013 were revealed. According to the released figures, Cardiff City have recorded a ï¿½30 million loss, taking their overall level of debt to ï¿½118 million, of which ï¿½66 million is owed to owner Vincent Tan from loans to the club, even after the Malaysian businessman converted ï¿½2.5 million into shares and wrote off ï¿½5 million in interest owed. Tan Dato' Seri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun (born 1952); (Chinese: 陳志遠; pinyin: Chï¿½n Zhï¿½yuǎn; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tï¿½n Chï¿½-uï¿½n), known simply as Vincent Tan, is a Malaysian businessman and investor.

He is the chairman and chief executive of Berjaya Corporation Berhad, which is in a wide array of businesses which includes golfing, property, resorts, and gambling in a group known as the Berjaya Group. In 2010, he entered the Forbes billionaire list with an estimated worth of US$1.3 billion (RM4.2 billion). Tan's success in the Malaysian business sector has been attributed in part to his close association with prominent Malay political figures. Vincent Tan reveals his mother was behind U-turn over controversial rebrand as Cardiff change club colour back to blue | Daily Mail Online Vincent Tan reveals his mother was behind U-turn over controversial rebrand as Cardiff change club colour back to blue Vincent Tan has agreed to change Cardiff's club colour back to blue Cardiff have played in red for the past two-and-a-half years after rebrand Owner Tan has opposed fans views to return to blue in the past Tan reveals a word from his mother prompted the change of heart comments Vincent Tan has revealed his mother was behind his reason to go back on the controversial rebranding of Cardiff City, a step that will go some way to repairing the enormous rift between the club and its fans.

The U-turn means Cardiff will return to a blue kit on Saturday when they host Fulham, ending the unpopular two-and-a-half-year stretch of playing in red. In that time, Tan frequently refused to switch back, even hinting he might leave the club in the face of protests. But with attendances falling and unrest growing, a meeting was called on Thursday between supporter groups and the club in which it was unanimously agreed the team should revert to blue. Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan controversially changed the club colours from blue to red in 2012 Dalman (second right) and Choo (right) pose with fans after announcing they are to switch back to blue Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman (centre) and chief executive Ken Choo at the announcement Tan rubber-stamped the change during Friday's board meeting, saying: ‘The Christmas and New Year period has given me time to reflect on the events of the last year. ‘My mother, Madam Low Siew Beng, a devout Buddhist, spoke to me on the importance of togetherness, unity and happiness. Cardiff City is important to me and I wish to see it united and happy.

‘I asked my chairman, Mehmet Dalman and CEO, Ken Choo, for their advice and to consult with a good cross-section of the fan base. ‘I am informed that this was a very productive and frank exchange of views, but all with the same objectives to strengthen our club.’ FULL STATEMENT FROM VINCENT TAN The Christmas and New Year period has given me time to reflect on the events of the last year. Spending time with my family had a profound effect upon me. My mother, Madam Low Siew Beng, a devout Buddhist, who attended Cardiff City Football Club to watch them play, spoke to me on the importance of togetherness, unity and happiness. Cardiff City Football Club is important to me and I wish to see it united and happy. With the guidance, blessing and influence of my mother, I asked my Chairman, Mehmet Dalman and Chief Executive Officer, Ken Choo for their advice and to consult with a good cross-section of the fan base.This meeting took place last night, when some seventy representatives of our supporters were present. My thanks and gratitude to those who gave up their evening and time to be there.

I am informed that this was a very productive and frank exchange of views, but all with the same objective to strengthen our Club. These views were also added to by a large number of emails that were sent to the Club over the last 24 hours from our wider supporter base. To paraphrase John F. Kennedy, 'Let us never compromise out of fear. But let us never fear to compromise.' My wish is to unite and make the Club successful and in order to achieve this I fully support the Board’s decision to implement the following changes: 1. Starting from Saturday, 10 January 2015 and until the end of this season, our home kit shall be Blue. Our Away Kit shall be Red. I would like to thank the Football League for their approval to facilitate my request. 2. For the 2015/16 season, Cardiff City’s home kit colour shall be Blue. Our Away Kit colour shall be Red. 3. The Club badge will be redesigned to reflect the dominance of the Bluebird, while celebrating the proud history and heritage of the Club. I also wish to incorporate elements representative of my culture and beliefs, which I hope are respected. 4.

As the Chairman has explained, the debt to equity resolution is not straightforward. We will deal with this in due course, with all decisions made in the best interest of the Club. 5. For the 2015/16 Season, Non Price Freeze Season Tickets will be reduced and Price Freeze Season Tickets shall be adjusted accordingly to match these prices.I very much hope these steps will bring unity, success and happiness to our Club. The challenge ahead for us is enormous and I truly believe we will overcome these obstacles as a united Club. I believe with divine blessings, Cardiff City Football Club will achieve great success. Warm regards

Question: In 2012 Vincent Tan rebranded which football club, changing its home colours?
Answer: Cardiff City FC